City Lights

Tommy LiPuma, then head of Horizon, brought Dr. John to the label and produced this attempt at a more adult sound. The crossover session players include Richard Tee on keyboards, who had been working with the Band, Steve Gadd on drums, Will Lee on bass and David Sanborn on alto saxophone. Al Schmitt handled recording and mixing, with strings arranged by Claus Ogerman. It was the Doctor's first recording in New York.

Born in New Orleans in 1941, Dr. John had by then made his name as a champion of the city's R&B. But he had not produced a hit for a general audience, and that was probably what Tommy hoped for. This album still has something not quite fully worked out about it. In 1989, however, Tommy would produce In a Sentimental Mood, including the splendid Rickie Lee Jones duet ‘Makin' Whoopee!,’ and at last deliver the definitive masterpiece of the adult Dr. John.